As the dark brooding rain clouds swirled over the Ortus Rec, thankfully, given Whitehaven’s rather unusual idea to launch a new and untested ticketing system on derby day, the threatened queues didn’t materialise, and the decent crowd who did turn up enjoyed a passionate, sometimes feisty and often scrappy Betfred League One battle between Whitehaven and Workington Town, topped and tailed by heavy rain, and with a greasy pitch and slippery ball.
The opening minutes were intense, with some big hits, and it was Whitehaven who took the lead six minutes in after a hit on Jake Pearce off the ball resulted in a penalty for Whitehaven, Dan Abram slotted home a penalty goal for the home side from forty yards out for 2-0.
Jake Carter tried his own penalty goal for Town but missed, and Workington had to wait their time.
That time came 11 minutes in when Cumbria Crack’s Man of the Match Levi Atiga finished a charge up the right wing for Town’s first try, but Carter was wayward with the boot for a second time, this time hitting the upright, and the try went unconverted for 2-4.
Town now had the upper hand and five minutes later an audacious backhanded flick from Atiga set up Castleford Tigers loanee Andy Djeukessi on the right wing who arrowed straight for the Whitehaven try line and dived in, and with Carter’s conversion it was 2-10.
Whitehaven continued to gift possession to Town, and as the penalty count rose, Town went over for their third, this time down the middle of the field with a dummy from Carter setting up Hull FC loanee Lennie Clark who charged in just beside the sticks, giving Carter and easy conversion for 2-16, although celebrations were muted after a melee under the posts.
There was hope for Whitehaven just before the break when first Abram was held up on the line, and then Connor Holiday seemed to have broken through Town defence and touched down, but referee Aaryn Belafonte chalked the try off for a knock on, and the first forty minutes came to a close.
As the second half began it was clear that whilst Town had a good lead, it was not an uncatchable lead, but much as Whitehaven tried, they simply could not break down the Town defence.
Much of the first 20 minutes was consumed with battles in the middle of the pitch in an increasingly scrappy game.
The predicted rain had held off apart from a slight drizzle, but the skies were darkening and Haven knew they had to get into the game.
Whitehaven now had more possession, and Max Anderson Moore came close before being bundled into touch, and both sides were guilty of gifting possession and territory to their opponents.
With the rain now pouring down, it took until the 72nd minute for the next try, and Town put the score line beyond Haven when an excellent jinking run forwards from the ever impressive Zarrin Galea set up Clark who charged through to touch down under the sticks for his second try, giving Carter an easy conversion for 2-22.
The very last play of the game saw a Jack Kellett kick set up passes from Jake Pearce and Holliday to Ellison Holgate who touched down under the sticks as the hooter sounded.
A final conversion from Abram gave the Haven faithful something to cheer about, but it was too little and too late, and this was a convincing win for Workington who took the two points and the bragging rights back up the A595 with a final score line of 8-22 to Workington.
As the game ended the heavens had well and truly opened up with torrential rain soaking players and supporters alike as they headed for cover.
A delighted Workington head coach Jonty Gorley celebrated the win with staff and players and the Town faithful.
The disappointed Whitehaven head coach Anthony Murray was left to reflect on a damaging 13-minute period.
He said: “I don’t think there was much between us physically in the middle. We gave Town four penalties and they scored three tries of the back of them, I thought they had the killer touch.”
He made a special mention to Jake Carter and Zarrin Galea and said that Workington “had the ability to finish us off”.
Murray added: “We got held up on the line a couple of times and Connor Holliday had a try disallowed, but we were 100 per cent better than last week and I am pleased the boys got something at the end for their efforts.
“We were miles better that last week, that’s what I asked for and that’s what I got but Town were the better team on the day.”
Whitehaven: Dan Abram, Mitchell Todd, Chris Taylor, Joe Hartley, Max Anderson-Moore, Jack Newbegin, Ethan Bickerdike, Jake Pearce, Ellison Holgate, Jordan Thomson, Connor Holliday, Rio McQuistan, Jack Kellett, Interchanges (all used): Brad Brennan, Ellis Nixon, Clarke Chambers, Josh Blinkhorn.
Workington Town: Zarrin Galea, Dave Eccleston, Max Clarke, Levi Atiga, Andy Djeukessi, Jake Carter, Dom Wear, Ross Ainley, Callum Phillips, Stevie Scholey, Lennon Clark, Zach Jebson, Jack Stephenson. Interchanges (all used): Jamie Doran, Lucas Castle, Guy Graham, Cooper Howlett.
Referee: Aaryn Belafonte
